The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-01
AMERICAS CUP YET.
The Volunteer Wins the Second and
Last OF the Races.
Story Of the Contest as 1t was Seen
From Sea and Shore.
Disappointed Hearts Aboard the
Thistle, and In Scotland.

VOLUNTEER .....5h. 42m. 461as.
THISTLE. .6h Gam. 45s.
New YORK. Sept, 30.-Nething but fog,
an able-bodied, business fog, with some sub
stance to it, could the yachtsmen see over
head when they gathered at the down town
piers this morning to go down in ships to the
sea. There might have been sunny skies
and feecy clouds up above somewhere, for
all they knew, but if there were the sight of
them could have added very little to the
calm comfort of the patriots. II it was a
trifle moist, even wet at times, there was a
freshness in the air that was invigorating to
them as the sight Of home to a weary tray
eler
a smart little breeze was coming fresh
and salt across the sea from the east. the
weather yane on the pilot Offices said, and
the weather sharps said it would remain
easterly all day, while, since the barometer
was rising, there would probably be rather
more than less of it. And so it was. By 10
O'Clock the wind was blowing at the rate of
10 to 20 miles per hour. from the east-north-
east. The mist was driven in-shore before
the breeze, and it soon had cleared enough
to make a race possible 1t was not a pleas
ant day for excursionists. but altogether it
was comforting day for yachtsmen. The
| prospect for good race and a victory for
the Volunteer was excellent.
The excursion boats were a little late in
arriving at the starting point, and the major
ity Of the landsmen they brought wished
they had stayed at home-when they got out
side the rolling of the vessel made them so
seaslck. 1t was worse sea than they had
anticipated, and worse, a good deal worse,
than the one that agitated the spectators on
the day OF the race between the Volunteer
and the Mayfiower. The smaller vessels,
such as the tugs and yachts, pitched and
the Volunteer and the Thistle, which were
already there clothing themselves for the
contest, being steadied by their canvas.
ieaped and danced along like two athletes
boiling over with enthusiasm: The big
weather, were well filed with people, and
those, although the vessels rolled not a lit
tlc, had much the more comfortable time of
But the number of excursion boats was
large. The number of people, too, was
equally astonishingly large. Even on the
beautiful summer day when the Mayhower
beat the Galatea in a fiuke year ago there
were no greater throngs than braved the
mlsts and fog to see the race today There
were probably 10000 people on the side
wheeiers alone. To those ON the little boats
1t looked as If there could scare be standing
room on the decks of the big ones for any
mor' than were already there. A dismally
larg' number we've leaning over the rails
wonG ering why nature had so ordered it
that rolling ship should make a man wish
ne we've dead. Not all who were sick were
dismal, however. One very pretty Young
lady IN red dress on neat steam yacht
was merry and vivaciOus, and sick and tear
ful by turns, and there were many others
like her through the fleet The sympathetic
yachtsmen said that seasickness always
made the handsomest Of their lady friends
more charming: The horseshoe at Sandy
Hook presented the same crowded appear
ance as on the previous race day.
The. Volunteer aud Thistle were maneuy-
ring about awaiting the decision of the COM
mlttee OF the New York Yacht Club under
whose direction the race was to be sailed.
Shortly before 1870 the Electra, the judges
boat, sent up signal ordering the contes-
tai.ti to the Scotland Lightship, which the
cohilittee evidently had determined to make
tne starting point: Almost instantly both
Doats were headed for the Lightship. Fol-
lowing close in their wake came swarm OF
crafts that huddled about the Lightship like
a swarm of bees The contestants, on near
ing the Lightship. went about and began
plopdIiub lOT bne SLaTL.
Al lO.32 the preparatory gun was fired,
followed ten minutes later by the signal to
start. In less time than IL takes to tell II
both yachts were headed for the starting
line, crossing close together three minutes
after the signal to start had been given.
They had their head sails, sprit-topsails and
mainsails set, and moved about at a lively
rate. The Thistle was to the windward.
but the volunteer appeared to be getting as
much Wind as her Scotch rival and seemed
to be slightly in the lead. There could be
no doubt from the view obtained that the
Volunteer was clearly outpointing the This
tie. They soon disappeared, however and
10 minutes after the start not glimpse of the
gallant sloop and her saucy Scotch opponent
could De seen through the prevailing mist
and rain. The course laid for the race was
20 miles TO the windward from the starting
point and return.
1t was all some of the steamboats, could do
to keep the Iscudding yachts in sight. The
volunteer leaned slightly more than the
Scotchman, but each heeled good deal. The
wind, at 20 miles an hour, gave signs of hold
ing out, and even Of freshening. The Vol
unteer sailed in the very teeth of the wind,
and her long. bowsprit pointed better than
ward, the Thistle cut the water like knife.
SO well were both sailing, and so slight the
distance between them, that the betting was
about even. The course was almost parallel
with the southern coast of Long Island. The
CACuAotOu UOdLo WcIt SOO1 lclL lar IN the
rear, and slowly but surely the Volunteer
drew away. As they passed Rockaway the
white Sl0op had lead Of half mile, having
gained it chiefly through her ability to point
closer to the wind than the cutter.
At noon the Yankee had increased her
lead until she was a mile to the fore. AT
1890 both went on the starboard tack, stand
ing in toward the shore, the Volunteer un-
mistakably gaining lead of fully mile and
a quarter at 1.30.
AZ oto fho 4.
nearing the stake-boat of Long Beach,
which they were to turn. To ali appear
ances the Volunteer was widening the gap.
AT 2.35 she turned the stake-boat on the
port tack amid deafening shrieks from the so
vessels standing off Jones's Inlet. The
Thistle was about mile off the stake-boat
on the starboard tack. Seventeen minutes
later she turned the boat, and was greeted as
the Volunteer had been.
When the Volunteer turned she imme-
diately caught the wind and went flying
ahead, Enthusiastically increasing her lead. At
3o'clock the yachts were directly opposite
Long Beach Hotel. Both were CARRYING
| spinnakers, balloon topsails, club sails and
mainsail, and were. flying before the wind
| with the Volunteer two miles in the lead
| At 3.45 the Volunteer was rushing along
| toward home with free sheet and foaming
| bow. The wind was fresher than at any
| time during the day. Back in the rear, some
| where in the neighborhood of two miles and
| a half, was the Thistle. The winning Vol
| unteer rushed up amid blasts from steam
| whistles, crossed the line at o'clock % min
| utes and At seconds, and the Electra's gun
belched out louder than ever it did before.
| The Volunteer eased up little, took in her
balloon jib and sailed on her triumphant way
| to Bay Ridge.
i The steamboats, and excursionists waited
and watched for the beaten boat. She looked
| pretty and as brave as she ever did, but that
was all. She crossed the finish eleven min
utes behind the Volunteer. She, too, got
cheers and toots of whistles, because she
had tried bravely. Following is the official
time:
/ START. FINISH
L h. IN. s. h. m. s.
/ Volunteer. er................10 40 503A % Al
/ Thistle. e...................10 40 81 30 IL